After two years of suspension due to the pandemic, the most popular event on the Argentine cultural agenda returns: the International Book Fair of Buenos Aires. This, its 46th edition, will run from the April 28 to May 16with a large part of its usual attractions and many novelties.
To your new manager, Ezekiel Martinez, he had the complex task of organizing the return, which was decided at the end of last year, based on the falling numbers of the pandemic and the return of many other activities with the public. A journalist with a long career in the cultural field, Martínez previously held, among other positions, that of deputy editorial secretary of the magazine Ñ and that of general director of Culture of the National Library. He currently he is also the president of the Foundation Thomas Eloy Martinezdestined to preserve the legacy of his father, the writer and teacher of journalists, author of classics such as “La novela de Perón” and “Santa Evita”.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm for the reunion,” the director of the Fair tells NOTICIAS, a few days before the start of the event, while around him; at the headquarters of the Fundación El Libro, the last details are defined.
The writer William Saccomanno will be in charge of opening the 2022 edition, along with a representative from Havana -guest city this year- and authorities of the national government and the City. The opening act, which in the past has been the scene of escraches and vindications, is usually one of the most significant moments of the event. In this regard, Martínez clarifies: “The Fair is plural, we do not censor anyone except on issues on which we all agree: discrimination, violence against women, etc. But there should be greater tolerance for dissent.”
What to do
If the book covers all the themes, it is logical that, within the Fair, as many parallel events coexist, as there are particular interests of its visitors.
Two days before the official start, the Professional days, aimed at the main players in the sector, from distributors to librarians. Starting on the 28th, when the Fair opens its doors to the public, in addition to the tour of stands, signings and book presentations by people’s favorite authors, many other specific activities take place. For example, the International Poetry Festival (April 29 to May 1) or the Dialogue of Writers and Writers of Latin America (May 7 to 10) or the Dialogue of Writers of Argentina (May 4 to 6). A youthful classic, the International Bookfluencers Meeting (ex “youtubers”), will take place on May 13 at 6:30 p.m.
This year, in addition, the 100th anniversary of the birth of José Saramago will be celebrated, with a Reading Marathon and the 40th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Gabriel Garcia Marquezwith an activity in which Jaime Bello (director of the Gabo Foundation) and his son, Rodrigo García, will participate via streaming from Los Angeles.
Mario Vargas Llosa he will visit the Fair again where he will present his latest book, “The quiet gaze”, dedicated to the work of the Spanish author, Benito Pérez Galdós. And also the American John Katzenbachthe Chilean Diamela Eltit and the Spanish Javier Fences.
Mariana Enríquez, Carlos Gamerro, Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, María Rosa Lojo, Inés Garland, Jorge Aulicino, Gabriela Massuh and Tamara Tenenbaum will be just some of the hundreds of national authors who will participate in this edition.
The international meeting “Think about the future” will bring together three personalities to reflect on the world to come: the French political scientist Caroline Fourest, the Spanish cultural journalist Jorge Carrión and the Uruguayan creator Pablo Casacuberta.
The event “40 years of the Malvinas”, on May 5, will also be a good opportunity for historians and chroniclers to analyze and take stock of the readings that the war received, four decades after it occurred.
“The ‘Pride and Prejudice’ space dedicated to diversity and the ‘New Neighborhood’ area are back to make room for small publishers who were never at the Fair”, explains the director.
In addition, in order to better navigate the “new normal” the corridors will be wider, and a “Firmodrome” so that those authors who summon long lines of readers at book signings, do so with greater space and comfort.
Basic data
The Buenos Aires Book Fair is the most popular in Spanish speaking. It is visited by more than a million readers and around 12,000 professionals. Its realization is vital for the sector and constitutes the moment of more sales of copies of the year.
As Ezequiel Martínez recalls, in 2019 the Fair was already organized, with many reserved and paid stands, when the suspension was determined as a result of the quarantine. “We respect those agreements as if they were made today. That is why this edition implies a great effort”, he explains.
The tickets this year they will cost $300 Monday through Thursday and $450 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But the tickets will translate into benefits. With the purchase of each ticket, Fundación El Libro will deliver a $450 checkbook to use from May 17 in participating bookstores. And those who make purchases for more than $ 3,500, will take another checkbook. In addition, each entry will be accompanied by discount vouchers.
“The Fair works against all adversity and is super massive -says Martínez-. But the important thing is that it generates readers, that people go to bookstores when the event is over and that these visits become a habit”.
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